A Big Boost for the Aiston Preserve Restoration

Aiston Preserve dock and pilings. Photo: Edmund Lowe Photography

The Heritage Trust was awarded a significant grant this month that will help move the Aiston Preserve restoration project forward. The Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program is part of WA state’s capital budget and is administered by WA Dept of Fish and Wildlife. It supports projects that restore the natural processes that create and sustain the Puget Sound nearshore ecosystem. This opportunity only comes around every two years. We are very grateful to the Lummi Islanders, Washington Association of Land Trusts and our local Representatives (Rep. Shewmake and Rep. Rule) who advocated whole-heartedly to allocate funding for our project in the capital budget. Thank you!

Eelgrass - Photo: Tamisie Honey

Our ESRP grant will be used to help restore the shoreline that was damaged by historic gravel mining at the old Lummi Island quarry, now the Aiston Preserve. The project will remove a loading pier, a dock, 76 creosote and steel pilings, and rip rap and fill along 500 feet of shoreline. Removing the pier, dock and pilings will allow eelgrass and kelp beds to expand; removing rip rap and fill will allow natural beach processes to recover. A no anchor zone will be designated, and mooring buoys will be installed to protect eelgrass beds, while allowing for low-impact public access. We will create new shallow water habitat by creating a pocket beach, restoring an existing beach, and re-connecting the nearshore and upland corridor by planting native shrubs and trees. The ESRP grant gives a big boost to the Aiston Preserve restoration project, which will benefit Lummi Island’s salmon, forage fish, crab, kelp, eelgrass, birds, plants and people for generations to come.